DOE Tour of Zero: Revive Sustainable Multifamily Living by Philgreen Construction

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Philgreen Construction built this multifamily building in Fort Collins, Colorado, to the performance criteria of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program. The average unit at Revive Sustainable Multifamily Living is 1,158 square feet.
Photo courtesy of Philgreen Construction
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The townhomes should save their homeowners about $1,586 in energy costs compared to a similar-sized code-built home, thanks to high-performance features and a 5.46 kW solar photovoltaic electric generation system that comes with each unit.
Photo courtesy of Philgreen Construction
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Each townhome comes with energy- and water-saving ENERGY STAR appliances.
Photo courtesy of Philgreen Construction
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The homes are equipped with high-performance double-paned windows, LED lighting, and ENERGY STAR ceiling fans that can help reduce air conditioner use.
Photo courtesy of Philgreen Construction
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The home’s advanced comfort system includes a high-efficiency geothermal heat pump for heating and cooling (at 3.8 COP and 18.7 EER) and a heat recovery ventilator to provide efficient ventilation.
Photo courtesy of Philgreen Construction
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Dual-flush toilets, low-flow faucets, and plumbing designed to meet EPA WaterSense standards are used to increase water conservation.
Photo courtesy of Philgreen Construction
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The builder’s crews spray foamed under the slab to provide a vapor barrier and a comprehensive R-10 thermal blanket.
Photo courtesy of Philgreen Construction
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Rigid foam wraps the exterior of the foundation slab in R-10 of thermal protection.
Photo courtesy of Philgreen Construction
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Advanced framing techniques allow more room for insulation and use less building materials. To minimize thermal bridging, the 2-by-4 studs were staggered on 2-by-6 top and bottom plates allowing the R-23 blown fiberglass to insulate the edges of the studs as well as between the studs and forming a continuous thermal blanket around the house.
Photo courtesy of Philgreen Construction
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Taped house wrap provides a continuous water barrier behind the siding.
Photo courtesy of Philgreen Construction

“The utilities in homes we lived in before ranged from $150-300 a month … last month, our utility bills were $11.”

DOE Tour of Zero: Revive Sustainable Multifamily Living by Philgreen Construction infographic: Fort Collins, CO; revivefc.com. 1,158 square feet, HERS score 5, $13 average monthly energy bill, $1,500 annual savings, $69,000 saved in the first 30 years.
Key features list: High-performance insulation system for enhanced quiet and comfort, comprehensive draft protection, fresh air system for cleaner indoor air, high-efficiency comfort system, energy-efficient appliances and advanced lighting technology for

“We take pride in owning a house that allows us to not only live a more sustainable life, but also allows us to save a significant amount of money on our utility bills. The utilities in homes we lived in before ranged from $150-300 a month. At our townhome last month, our utility bills were $11.”

– Homeowner